Affordable Parcel Post Options?

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TLD

704 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 261515 1-Dec-2019 23:05

After 15 years of only buying from TradeMe, I now need to deal with the deeply flawed adage 'He who dies with the most toys wins' as I need to unclutter my garage. I've used NZ Parcel Post for some small and light objects, but if I am reading the Parcel Post rates site properly, a large camera bag (empty) weighing less than 2kg would cost $60 to post from Blenheim to Auckland. If that is right, it is crazy, so does anyone have suggestions for affordable options? We have Fastpost in Blenheim — are they reasonable? I guess I should see if they have a web page that gives you a clue.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

PeterReader

5742 posts

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Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

# 2364258 1-Dec-2019 23:05

Hmmmm. Here we go.

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fe31nz

490 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 2364266 2-Dec-2019 00:30

3 people support this post

Have you looked at the pricing from the couriers that are offered on the TradeMe site? They seem to give discounted rates via TradeMe.

Lias

3914 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

# 2364293 2-Dec-2019 08:15

What @fe31nz said.. Trademe's 'Native' shipping thing is generally the best pricing available to non trade customers in my experience, but Pass the Parcel can be worth looking at too.

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NPCtom

NodexHost
188 posts

Master Geek

Subscriber

# 2364556 2-Dec-2019 12:13

Try Fastway or as Lias' suggested PostHate's Pass-The-Parcel service.

TLD

704 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 2365174 2-Dec-2019 21:04

Thanks guys. You see things on TradeMe with reasonable postage for the size and weight, so it must be doable. I'll check out the TradeMe book a courier service, and see if I can get a heads up before selling. I mean, otherwise how do you know what to put in the auction?

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

Zigg

114 posts

Master Geek

# 2365528 3-Dec-2019 11:21

I mainly use Pass The Parcel - no extra charge if going rural, they don't do PO Boxes though.

CokemonZ

363 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 2365531 3-Dec-2019 11:23

+1 for pass the parcel.

If you are doing a lot (20+ a week) gosweetspot are good as the aggregate multiple courier companies and you can choose best price/time/other stuff.

TLD

704 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 2367855 3-Dec-2019 23:38

CokemonZ:

+1 for pass the parcel.

If you are doing a lot (20+ a week) gosweetspot are good as the aggregate multiple courier companies and you can choose best price/time/other stuff.

I bought a large machine vice from Nelson a few weeks back, which came via Pass the Parcel. Postage was shown as free within NZ, so obviously included in the price. It was tracked so I eagerly followed its progress wondering why it was taking so long. Several days after the tracking said it had been collected, it said passed to NZ Post for rural delivery. It weighed >30kg and I was so worried about our poor post lady that I waited with a trolley to save her back.

I'm kind of getting to grips with some of it, and have posted two items weighing less than 3kg using the NZ post prepaid envelopes, but I have a couple of camera bags way too big for those bags despite weighing bugger all. I am absolutely not going to do this as a regular thing. I just want to declutter the garage so I can build a big feck-off woodworking bench. My wife suggested I use the TradeMe no reserve = no fee day a couple of Saturdays back. That resulted in a large projector screen selling for $2! You have to laugh at stuff like that, and I'd offered it to the camera club as a spare for free. I'd had the impression that TradeMe commission was mega, but a microphone that sold for $55 only cost me $1.70 commission.

Goodness knows how regular sellers keep track as it seems way too much hassle to me.

Thanks for your help guys.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

kiwiharry

472 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 2367875 4-Dec-2019 07:44

I had a poor experience with Trade Me's shipping quote on a recent trade.

I was selling an item so used their quote tool to generate the shipping costs. Buyer chose the appropriate shipping cost (South Island - Non Signature), but when I went to go book the courier via the TM system, that shipping option was not showing and the cheapest option was $1 more and was Signature Required. Buyer was not rural and package weight and dimensions were as per originally entered. I was going to just absorb the cost but checked with buyer and they specifically wanted non signature option. That option was showing as $6 more expensive.

I complained to TM. They ended up crediting me the difference.

I've not had an issue before with these quotes so unsure why this one went askew.